U of C partnership with industry gives high hopes to engineering graduates
The Schulich School of Engineering is one of the faculties that helps the University of Calgary earn its strong reputation among Canadian higher-learning institutions. Traditionally, many of the more than 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students have high hopes of beginning a career in various sectors of the energy industry, but the building and construction industry is collaborating with the school to encourage more of them to take courses that would fill a need for more engineers in their areas.
Garry McTighe, a former partner with SMP Engineering, approached dean of engineering Bill Rosehart to share his industry’s concern about recruiting electrical engineering graduates with a good knowledge of what is required to provide engineering for the design of structures.
Building codes and regulations were not in the curriculum at the time, but Rosehart became the driver that has resulted in a partnership of industry and academia that has proven to be a boon to students.
Good examples are Brigitte Paquette and Nicole Maguire, who chose to take the building infrastructure courses in their fourth year of studies and, upon receiving their electrical engineering degrees, were employed by SMP.
McTighe says the firm welcomed them as the “new generation” who would play an important part in the future growth of the firm, along with seven other graduates SMP hired.
Schulich faculty members were also enthusiastic and with the help of SMP staff led by electrical engineer Greg Pink, who together created a course outline relevant to the industry, students were given the tools they needed to harmonize theory and practical.
Along with another dozen SMP engineers who volunteer their time, Pink is a regular guest lecturer to help students understand the needs of industry and offer them interaction with its professionals.
In the five years since the new courses were introduced, 17 companies have sponsored learning labs to more than 100 students. The first year, 30 students registered and today the courses are full to the maximum of 50.
Rosehart continues to be a believer in the growing relationship between his faculty and industry that has given students an awareness of building engineering and an increased readiness for the workplace.
He says collaboration is key, and with architects interested in the goal of preparing students for the workplace, Schulich and the university’s faculty of environmental design are in discussion to bring their students opportunities to work together.
Mechanical engineering now has a similar partnership, and civil engineering offers courses and increased engagement with guest lecturers from companies such as AME Group, RJC Engineering and PCL Construction.
Several companies attended a job fair at the university last fall to make students aware that there are interesting and challenging jobs available in building infrastructure engineering.
NOTES
The University of Calgary has been recognized as a leader in internationalization, garnering four prestigious awards in the past 13 months, the latest being the 2017 Institutional Award for Global Learning, Research and Engagement. The university’s International Strategy has been led and managed by Janaka Ruwanpura, who was recently reappointed vice-provost (international) through to 2023. Provost Dru Marshall says: “Universities have a critical role to play in globalization and we have made significant strides.” The University of Calgary has become a global intellectual hub.
After 19 of what James Midwinter calls exciting, rewarding and fun-filled years at GWL Realty Advisors, executive vice-president of development Midwinter made the decision to retire at the end of 2017. His contributions to the Calgary real estate industry will be greatly missed.